AMARILLO,TEXAS -- The revelation this week from Austin that the state is looking at an $18 billion shortfall is once again raising the qustion of legalized gambling as a revenue generator.

In the past, legislators have looked at different forms of gambling to bring in more money, but have never gotten the two-thirds required majority vote.

State Representative John Smithee adds that gambling isn't the never-ending cash cow some people believe it would be.

"Because I think there's a lot of misinformation about what gambling would produce in state revenue. There's a lot of money to be made but in most states it's the private promoters that make the money...very few and very select intrests that make all the money the state's actually don't make that much at all off of gambling revenue."

And he adds that he doesn't think it's anything state leaders will be seriously considering anytime in the near future.

"It's hard to predict something like that...the consitiutional prohibition that requires a two-thirds vote has been a major impediment, so certianly although I don't think gambling would be a big financial boost to the state, I think when the state's in financial tought times, that gives some impetus to people who want to argue that gambling is the way to go."

And Smithee added that the talk of gambling always seems to increase whenever the state's revenue decreases.